Vehicle wheel



G. E. RIBLET VEHICLE WHEEL 2 9 .1 L 1. a O

- Original Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. E. RIIBLET VEHICLE WHEEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 5. 1919 portions adap Reissued Oct. 11, 1927.

"I'JWI'PEZD ATEIS.

GEORGE'E. RIB'LET, or ERIEJEETNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE WH- EEL.

original Nb. 1,414,043, dated April 25 1922, Serial No. 342,251, filed December 3, 1919. Application for I reissue filed octate'r 11, 1922.

This invention relates to" separable pressed steel wheels and is more particularly directed to wheels of this character which are especiallyadapte'd for use on automobiles and aeroplanes. v

The object of the invention is to produce a wheel structure in which the several components may be readily disassembled and replaced and in whichthe wheel rim has a positive driving connection with the body of the wheel. v I i A further object is to provide a wheel combining a rim and opposed circular dished body members having contractile peripheral I ed to readily and to be'expanded to cla'mpingly engage the rim. a

Another object is toso construct the body members as to permit their proper engagement with the rim without distortion and without the necessity of being sprung or forced into place. I

Various other objects including those of simplicity; strength, lightness of construction' and el'ieapiies's of manufacture wi'llbe more fully apparentfrom the following des'c'ription of the accompanying drawings" which form a part of this disclosure and whichillustrate a preferred form'o'f embodiinent ofthe'invention;

Oif the drawings:

Fig. 1 is e side elevation of, my improved wheel structure as utilized for an automobile or aeroplane wheel. igi 21s a central transversesection.

Fig. '3 is a side eleva-t'ie'n of therirn memher. I I i I Fig; 4- is a. detailed section on the line m' mofFi g; 1. I I I Fig. 5 is aside elevation amodified form of side or body member.

Fig; 6 is a central transverse section.

through the wheel shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 isa detailed-"elevation of the modified form of side member, detached from the rim.

Fig. 8 is apartials en-01121 view of a lami-' 'n'ated side'member'formedof a plurality of relatively thin sheet metal members.

Referringto. Figs; l-to 4, the rim 1 of't he peripheral channel adapted to" receive the-tire 2 and a medial ri b 3 which plurality-of drivingstuds 4. Said" studs are rigidly-secured'in the rib 3, 'in' the present instance by having a drive fit wheel has a carries a being pressed or engage the rim of a wheel having 1 rim, their peripheral serial No. 593,910.

in their receiving orifices in the rim and drlven into place, and proof the rib.

ject on opposite sides Fig. 4.)

On either side of the rib 3, at the juncture of said rib with the rim 1- there are formed grooves 5 5 for receiving the peripher'al edges of the side members-of the wheel, as will later be explained.

'. The side members of the Wheel are formed preferably of sheet steel and comprise dished circular disks 67 which together with their complementary hub elements, as separate units, are each removable with respect to the rim 1 and to "the opposed side member. The disk 6 'ha's a medial aperture ad'a ated to receive a flanged flange 9 thereof secured to the disk by bolts 10. The disk"? alsohas-a medial orifice to receivea flangedsleeve 11 which extends inWardl; with its" flange 12 secured to the disk by bolts'll3l A revolvable sleeve 14 has aperipheral shoulder at o'neend, and at the oppositeend has a screw threaded portion 15 of reduced diameter;

Thesleeve 14 is rotatable within theflanged sleeve 11 of the disk? with the sleeve 11 positioned to engage the shoulder of the sleeve Mandretained in-pos iti'on by a collar or nut 16 which inner end of the sleeve 14.

A portion of the inner" periphery of the sleeve 14; and a portion of'th'e outer periphery of thehub '8 are'thre'ade'd for co-operative engagement I sleeve l' is contoured co-receive a wrench or other tool suitable for rotating said sleeve. (See Fig. 11-) ofradial slots 17 extending inwardly from its peripheral edge and dividing the 'peripheral'pcrtions of the'disk into a plurality of transversely flexible segments. Certain of theseslots are enlarged atthe periphery of the'disks for engagement withthe driving studs 41 of thewheel rim. I I

Beforethe' disks are assembled with the segmental portions are contracted; by the inherent tension of'the metal. with the slots 17 ne'ai'ly closed at the periphery of the disks, providing disks of minimurindiameter for assembling "with the rim withoutdistortion. I I The rim 1 has aradialaperture to accommodate an air valve 18 of the tire 2 and one and theou'ter'en'd of the PATENT OFFICE.

(See i hearing hub 8 with the Each disk-6+7 is provided with a series side member-s,

circular disk members,

of the disks is apertured to afford access to said valve, said aperture being normally closed by a cover plate 19. The engagement of the notches at the ends of the slits with the studs 4 locate the disks so as to bring the aperture into register with the air valve 18. g

In assembling the several componentsof the wheel, the two side or disk members are brought together from opposite sidesof the wheel rim with the bearing hub 8 of the disk 6 engaging into the revolvable sleeve 14 of the disk 7 and the peripheral edges of both disks engaging their respective grooves 5-5 of the wheel rim. By reason of the normal contracted condition of the peripheral portion of the disks, their. edges can readily be engaged with their compan on grooves of the rim without initial distortion of the disks and without the use of tools.

To clamp the parts together, the revolvable sleeve 14 is screwed upon the bearing hub 8, drawing the medial portions of the opposed disks together and expanding the peripheral portions of the disks to clampingly engage into the grooves 55 of the rim 1. This clamping action is assured by the fact that there is no axial limitation to the movement of the sleeve 14 except the engagement of the peripheries of the disks with the rim 1, the full force of the axial contracting movement of the sleeve 14 being thus eifected to exert clamping action between the disks and rim. 7

This structure provides disks or side members having contractile peripheral portions and provides also a quick demountable wheel having positive driving connection between the rim and hub.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 the rim is of the same construction as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and the hub elements have only a slightchange in contour to provide annular shoulders 2021 afi'ording an anchorage for the side members. The in this instance, are formed of a plurality of segmental plates 22 having outwardly flanged inner ends contoured to engage beneath the shoulders 20--21. (See Fi 6.

The ialates are contoured to form complete the adjacent edges forming radial slots, with certain edges notched to provide for the engagement with the driving studs of the rim.

' Near their inner ends the plates have opposed notches forming orifices for the accommodation of the bolts 10-13.

When the revolvable sleeve 14 is operated releasing the side discs 6 and 7 these side discs contract and assume a deeper dishshaped form. This contraction closes the radial slots 17 so that the walls of the slots are in contact as shown inFig. 7. This gives to the outer periphery of the discs 3.

minimum diameter for easy assembling with the rim.

The side member illustrated in Fig. 8 is formed of a plurality of relatively thin sheet metal laminations 25. This construction enables a variation to be made in the strength of: the wheel, it being possible, when a wheel of greater strength is required, to assemble a greater number of laminations in the structure and reversely, when it is desired to produce a' wheel of lesser strength and greater inherent resiliency a lesser number of laminations will be incorporated therein.

WVher-e the side members are formed of sheet metal, as in the preferred form, the slits break the sound board efliect of the disks. This is an important feature in devices of this type.

lVhat I claim as new is 1. A vehicle wheel combining a rim having a plurality of transverse driving studs, opposed circular side members having radially disposed peripheral slots dividing the peripheral portions of-the side members into segments adapted to engage the rim, certain of said slots being enlarged for engagement with the driving studs, and means operable todraw the side members together to flex the segments to clamping engagement with the rim. 7

2. A vehicle wheel combining a rim having a plurality of transverse driving studs and opposed internal annular grooves, opposed circular side members expansible to engage the grooves and notched for engagement with the driving studs, a fixed bearing hub carried by one side member, and a revolvable sleeve carried by the opposite member and cooperating with the bearing hub to expand the side memberstoclampingly engage the rim within the annular grooves.

3. A vehicle wheel combining a rim having an internal annular medial rib, and a plurality cular side members positioned respectively on opposite sides of said rib with their peripheral edges seated at the juncture of said rib and rim, the side members having peripheral notches engaging the studs, a stationary hub member projected inwardly. from one side member, and a revolvable member jour naled in and projected inwardly from the opposite side member and cooperating with the stationary hub member to draw the side members together to clampingly engage their peripheral edges with therim,

4. A vehicle wheel combining a rim having a transverse driving stud; opposed circular side members having expansible peripheries and a slot adapted to engage the stud; and means operable on the centers of said side members to opposingly fiex them and expand the peripheries into engagement with the rim.

5. A vehicle wheel combining a rim havof transverse driving studs, opposed ciring transverse driving studs; circular dishshaped side members opposingly placed with their concave sides toward each other and having a slot adapted to engage the studs; and means operable to draw the medial portions of the side members together to flex said side members into clamping engagement with the rim. 7

-6. A vehicle wheel combining a rim having a transverse driving stud and opposed internal annular grooves; opposed circular side members expansible to engage the grooves; a. notch to engage the driving stud; and means operable to draw the side members together to flex the segments to clamping engagement with the rim.

7. A vehicle wheel combining a rim having a transverse driving stud; opposed side members, each comprising a stationary hub memher and peripherally notched to engage said stud; and a revolvable sleeve journaled in one hub member'and cooperating with the opposite hub member to force the peripheral edges of the side members into clamping engagement with the rim.

8. Ina vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim; expansible side members adapted to be expanded into engagement with said rim said side members having fixed hub members thereon with overlapping sleeves; and an interposed sleeve between the overlapping sleeves, rotatively mounted with relation to one of the hub sleeves and screw-threaded with relation to the other for moving the side members axially to expand the peripheries. v 9'. A vehicle Wheel combining a rim; dishshaped circular expansible side members adapted to engage said rim as the peripheries are expanded; and means for moving the centers of the members axially to expand the peripheries and clamp the same into engagement with the rim; the side members with the rim as the peripheries are expanded forming a stop limiting the action of the means.

10. A vehicle Wheel combining a rim having a transverse stud; an inflation tube extending through the rim; expansible side members adapted to clampingly engage the rim, one of the side members having an opening for an inflation tube; and a notch adapted to engage the stud, said notch bringing the opening into register with the tube; and detachable means for moving the medial portions of the side members axially to expand the peripheries into clamping engagement with the rim.

11. A vehicle wheel combining a rim; a hub; slitted and dished side members of sheet metal opposingly placed; and means for se the engagement of curing the side members to the rim and hub,

members under initial tension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' GEORGE E. RIBLET.

said means being adapted to put the side I v 

